SC urged to grant protection writs for 2 environmental activists

Environmental activists Jhed Tamano (in yellow shirt) and Jonila Castro issue a short statement to the media after meeting with human rights officials on Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023, at the Commission on Human Rights headquarters in Quezon City after a press conference by the NTF-Elcac in Bulacan. (File photo by GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE / Philippine Daily Inquirer)

MANILA, Philippines — Human rights group Karapatan on Sunday expressed hope that the Supreme Court would grant the protection writs being sought by the two environment activists who last month accused the military of abduction.

Karapatan Secretary General Cristina Palabay called on the high court to grant the writs of amparo and habeas data sought by Jhed Tamano and Jonila Castro, saying these petitions should be granted “at the soonest possible time.”

According to Palabay, the two activists “need all the protection they can get against threats and harassment,” especially to safeguard them from the “bullies” in the military and in the government’s anti-communist task force.

These agencies “are hell-bent to save face and cover up the rights violations they have committed against these two brave young women,” Palabay said in a statement.

She pointed out that the “threats, harassment and intimidation” against the two “did not end” after they were released from military custody in September when they revealed they were taken by soldiers in Bulacan.

The two environment activists filed a petition at the high court on Sept. 28 seeking the protection writs.

A writ of amparo is a remedy available to any person whose right to life, liberty, and security has been either violated or threatened by an unlawful act by a public official or employee.

On the other hand, a writ of habeas data is a protection of an individual’s right to control information against them that was illegally obtained.

Castro and Tamano both appeared at a news conference hosted by the National Task Force to End Communist Armed Conflict, supposedly to announce that they were not abducted but “surrendered” to the military for their protection.

However, they announced instead that they were forcibly taken by the military and denied claims that they were armed when they allegedly yielded.